WASHINGTON – A warning period has been extended for more than 130 new traffic enforcement cameras in D.C. before bad drivers can get fines for speeding and infractions at stop signs, crosswalks and intersections.
Cameras originally scheduled to begin issuing tickets and fines on Monday, Dec. 30, will continue to issue warnings until all the cameras have given violators a 30-day grace period.
“We are working to ensure that all possible warning tickets are mailed prior to issuing live tickets,” Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Gwen Crump wrote in an email.
While Crump says the warning period will be extended, she does not specify when the 30-day grace period expires for all the new traffic cameras.
New cams will issue tix for 7 diff violations including blocking the box #WTOP pic.twitter.com/fSfHSH4STY
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) December 30, 2013
The 132 new traffic control cameras in D.C. monitor numbers of new infractions which have not been monitored electronically in D.C. before. Seven types of new traffic cameras installed across the city will automatically ticket drivers for violations if they run a red light, speed, run a stop sign, don’t give a pedestrian the right of way, block a traffic intersection or speed through one or if they have an over-sized vehicle on a restricted street.
The cameras are part of the Metropolitan Police’s D.C. StreetSafe initiative, responding to the safety concerns of D.C. residents. The tickets range from $50 to $300. See the breakdowns on the StreetSafe website.
Below is a list of the number of cameras aimed to track each offense and the fine associated with it.
- 16 new cameras will be ticketing cars that enter crosswalks being used by walkers and cyclists ($250 fine).
- 32 are aimed to catch drivers rolling past stop signs ($150 fine).
- 20 catch cars that “block the box” ($50 fine).
- 8 are in neighborhoods to detect oversize vehicles prohibited from smaller roadways ($150 for big trucks and overweight vehicles get $250 or more).
- 24 new speed cameras (up to $300).
- 32 mobile units that can be moved to and from various locations.
When nearly twice as many people as usual were killed by cars on D.C. streets earlier this year, the police department defended the use of traffic control cameras as a safety measure.
“Automated enforcement saves lives,” D.C. police spokeswoman Gwen Crump said to D.C. Crime stories.
For more information about D.C.’s speed and red light camera laws compared with other states, visit the Governor’s Highway Safety Association website.
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